Throwback trick-or-treating: Ben Roethlisberger ends Tom Brady’s 21-game winning streak on Halloween

As Halloween approaches, how about some nostalgic memories to lift the spirits of Steelers fans?

The Steelers are currently spending Halloween in practice in preparation for Thursday night’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans, a game that could prove to be a pivotal one in determining the AFC playoff standings. However, 19 years ago, the Steelers shocked their hated AFC rivals, the New England Patriots, to snap their 21st straight win with a 34-20 victory in Pittsburgh on Halloween Sunday.

QB Ben Roethlisberger is in his rookie season and this is his fifth NFL game. The Steelers have won four straight against the Patriots, and quarterback Tom Brady has New England firing on all cylinders, winning 21 straight, the longest streak in NFL history. . The Patriots got the first field goal, but then the Steelers came on fire and led 24-3 in the second quarter. Roethlisberger connected with WR Plaxico Burress on two consecutive touchdown drives, the first for 47 yards and the second for 4 yards. Linebacker Deshea Townsend caught Brady and ran the ball inside for a 39-yard interception return touchdown, giving Pittsburgh a sizable lead and a win at Heinz Stadium. Field) created a momentum.

Brady successfully connected with wide receiver David Givens for a touchdown before halftime, making the score 24-10, but Pittsburgh lost the ball after Patriots wide receiver Kevin Faulk dropped the ball in the third quarter. Receiver Duce Staley responded with a touchdown. The Steelers and Patriots then exchanged field goals, making the score 34-13. Brady found Givens again for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn’t complete the comeback and Pittsburgh won by two touchdowns.

It was a landmark win for the Steelers, defeating their old nemesis and ending their impressive winning streak in Pittsburgh on Halloween night. The Steelers successfully pulled off the deal, winning 14 straight games (15 total) with Roethlisberger as the starting quarterback, but lost to the Pats in a rematch of the AFC Championship Game. team. New England would go on to win the Super Bowl, but the 2004 matchup between the two teams sparked a long-running rivalry between the Steelers and Patriots. Over the next nearly 15 years, Roethlisberger and Brady, along with Mike Tomlin and Bill Belichick, became key players in the AFC’s powerhouse clash. Still, despite the current state of this team, Inz can still celebrate today, looking back on the Steelers’ win against the monster himself: Tom Brady.